NEIL BLAKE | nblake@mdn.netShirts that read "Heroes wear blue" with the Rapid City Police Department badge are available at Karen's Hallmark in Midland for$20. Proceeds from the shirts will go to benefit the families of the three officers shot in an incident in South Dakota in early August, one of whom was J. Ryan McCandless of Midland, who died of his injuries. less

NEIL BLAKE | nblake@mdn.netShirts that read "Heroes wear blue" with the Rapid City Police Department badge are available at Karen's Hallmark in Midland for$20. Proceeds from the shirts will go to benefit the ... more

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NEIL BLAKE | nblake@mdn.netShirts that read "Heroes wear blue" with the Rapid City Police Department badge are available at Karen's Hallmark in Midland for$20. Proceeds from the shirts will go to benefit the families of the three officers shot in an incident in South Dakota in early August, one of whom was J. Ryan McCandless of Midland, who died of his injuries. less

NEIL BLAKE | nblake@mdn.netShirts that read "Heroes wear blue" with the Rapid City Police Department badge are available at Karen's Hallmark in Midland for$20. Proceeds from the shirts will go to benefit the ... more

T-shirts being sold to raise money for the Rapid City, S.D., Fallen Officers Memorial Fund have reached Midland.

The shirts are the work of the Police Wives Club in Rapid City after three officers, among them Officer Ryan McCandless, a Midland native, were struck by gunfire on Aug. 2 while on duty. McCandless, 28, and Officer Nick Armstrong, 27, were killed. Officer Tim Doyle, 39, who suffered a gunshot wound to his face, was hospitalized and has since returned to work.

In the days following the shooting, the 50 members of the Rapid City Police Wives Club felt they needed to do something to help, Rapid City Police Capt. Karl Jegeris said. Once the shirts were designed, a local shop started printing right away, with the club volunteering labor.

"They were printing them as fast as they could," Jegeris said. "It really took off," with the community wanting to support the officers. Many Rapid City businesses have ordered the shirts for employees, including the hospital system, schools and restaurants, he said.

"It ended up being a very positive effort," Jegeris said.

Local residents Kevin Renwick and Denise Cole are working to sell the 300 shirts they have ordered and contemplating more.

"There's been a lot of people looking for them," Renwick, a longtime friend of the McCandless family, said.

The T-shirts are being sold at Karen's Hallmark, 219 E. Main St., for a $20 cash donation. The Hallmark store used to be owned by McCandless' grandfather, and McCandless also worked there for a time, said sales associate Kathleen Bloemker.

"It's certainly very saddening that this occurred, but we're truly honored we were asked to participate," she said. "We're just providing an outlet, and felt it was very appropriate."

There also will be a stand outside the store during this weekend's car show and next weekend's chili and salsa cook-off, plus Renwick said the shirts are being sold at the Midland Law Enforcement Center, 2727 Rodd St.

The money from the sales will go to the Rapid City Police Department Fallen Officers Memorial Fund, first to help the families of the three officers with expenses related to the incident, and second for a memorial to honor McCandless and Armstrong.

"We haven't even begun the planning" for the memorial, Jegeris said, adding a meeting with the families has been set for October.